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| Listen, Celebrate, Ask |
- Respond to the writing, not the person or personal problems.
- The writing may remind you of things in your own life that are similar. Avoid telling your own stories as that takes away from helping the author improve his/her story.
- Questions are the most helpful responses. They provide openings whereas answers or suggestions sometimes cause a shutdown of ideas. The writer can pose specific questions to focus the listeners and to give permission for helpful comments. The listeners can ask questions to help the writer see what is missing or unclear.
- Always start with positive comments that are as specific as possible. Tell something specific about the piece that you enjoyed, found interesting, considered a “pocket of brilliance.” Quote words from the text that you liked.
- Ask “I wonder…?” questions (e.g., what it looked like; how you felt about that; etc.)
- In a response group, begin by setting up the operating procedures, i.e., how your group will work (e.g., will each author provide guidance on the types of comments he/she needs, how you will assure that each author has a chance to be heard and to receive responses, how to handle disagreements about writing in positive ways, etc.)
- Limit the time of responding to any one piece so that the listeners don’t begin to pick apart the writing just to fill the time.
- It is hard to change your writing. Be open to all responses without feeling defensive. Be thoughtful to use only ideas that enable you to tell the story you wish to tell.
- Responses to first drafts are more global in nature, i.e, think about the gestalt of the writing, the big ideas, the main points. Avoid discussing specific words, grammar, etc. during responses to first drafts.
- If you do not find the responses helpful as you revise, do not use them. You are the author of your writing!